Embraer Services & Support has significantly expanded its component pool agreement with Airlink, Southern Africa’s leading regional airline, to include the carrier’s incoming fleet of ten new Embraer E195-E2 jets. This extended partnership ensures comprehensive support for Airlink’s entire all-Embraer fleet, which will grow to 78 aircraft, making it one of the largest Embraer-supported fleets in Africa.
The agreement marks a strategic evolution in a relationship that began in 2001. Airlink is currently acquiring the state-of-the-art E195-E2s through lease agreements with Azorra. By integrating these new aircraft into the existing Embraer Pool Program, Airlink secures a critical support framework designed to maximize operational readiness and economic efficiency from day one of E2 operations.
For an airline like Airlink, which serves 47 destinations across 15 countries in often-remote regions of Southern and East Africa, minimizing aircraft downtime is paramount. The Pool Program directly addresses this by providing guaranteed access to a vast, shared inventory of replacement parts. This model eliminates the need for Airlink to invest heavily in its own extensive spare parts warehouse, converting a large capital expense into a predictable operational cost. The program is engineered to reduce the time aircraft spend waiting for parts, thereby optimizing fleet availability and reliability—key factors for network stability and growth.
Airlink’s CEO, de Villiers Engelbrecht, emphasized the value of the expanded agreement, stating, “This extension provides the operational security we require as we deploy our new E2s. It is a foundational element in achieving the full commercial and economic benefits of these advanced, efficient aircraft, allowing us to focus on integrating them seamlessly into our network.”
Carlos Naufel, President and CEO of Embraer Services & Support, highlighted the mutual commitment, saying, “Airlink is a flagship operator and a testament to the efficiency of regional aviation. This agreement reinforces our dedication to their continued success with advanced, cost-effective support solutions that empower their ambitious growth strategy across Africa.”
Embraer’s global Pool Program is a cornerstone of its services portfolio, leveraging the company’s scale and expertise to deliver significant savings on repair and inventory costs for airline partners. For Airlink, as it prepares to introduce the quietest and most fuel-efficient aircraft in its history, this strengthened support partnership ensures its technical operations are equally advanced, positioning the airline for its next phase of regional leadership.
